Originally Posted by
Stoic
Do not the present goings on demonstrate that the conglomerate union, Unite, now has within it the seeds of its own destruction? Unite contains many impossible conflicts of interest. For example. the striking BASSAists (of Unite) who refuse to contemplate change are prepared to put at risk the livelihoods of BA's other Unite members. Hardly an act of brotherly trade unionism!
Is not the very name 'Unite' an oxymoron? Can Unite survive in its present form or will it be obliged to demerge so that the interests of its different groups of workers can be properly represented?
There are many within the Union who would agree with your analysis.
However, I believe the solution is in the membership. Fighting from within is far better than leaving. Quitting the Union will not benefit one single person in the long run. Those opposed to the strike at BA would have been better off joining BASSA in force and changing things from within. The only section to benefit from the resignations will be the company bosses. Those quitting will be at forefront of future cuts, there loyalty will not be rewarded, it will not save their jobs. They will be seen as weak by the company.
One of the biggest problems that moderate TU reps have is the fact that many people either do not vote, or, do not realise what will happen if they vote for strike action. Every strike is met with those who cry off at the last minute with the whine 'I didn't think it would come to a strike' Now, it would be far better for them not to have voted for the strike in the first place.
I would resist the involvement of National Officers at all costs. In my view once they are involved the whole thing becomes Political, and we can all do without that (as the BA strike).
It is always better to talk than walk.
I think that the Union gets an unfair press and all the good it does is never reported. There are many small engineering firms up and down the country who have been saved due to the TU helping negotiate pay cuts and pension cuts where necessary. I know of a company who actually phoned the TU area rep and asked if he could help because they didn't think they could afford to pay the workers that month. (Admittedly this is Amicus). That company is still trading and on the up. The amount of individuals it has represented are too many to mention.
I've seen reps berated for helping save jobs rather than agreeing redundancies. Basically for a moderate TU rep it's very hard. The easiest thing to be is a militant, no thinking is involved in that. Telling the workforce how it is, rather than how it should be is not an easy road to take.
Once realism goes out of the window then we see the BA situation.
Having said all that, keeping an eye out for the opportunist CEO's who are using the present economic situation to prepare for massive profits over the next couple of years, on the back of reducing Terms and conditions, lowering pay, closing pension funds and forcing redundancies, is a given.
The management have a right to manage, they also have a responsibility to their workforce. Between us we should be able to ensure that everyone is treated fairly, equitably and with respect.
To all those who disagree with the TU in the BA case I say, get together, organise, join BASSA and change it from within, if change is needed....
To the original Question.....Yes I think Unite is too big, I think that those of us hanging in there will, eventually, win the day. If that means de-merging then so be it...
I wish you all good luck.